Free Google Penalty Checker Tool: Check Your Site in Two Minutes!

Dylan reference aside, we’ve seen some major changes at Google during the past few months.

From the demise of Google Reader and restrictive access in the Keyword Tool to the lackluster remains of Google Alerts and the sunset of Feedburner, it’s clear the company isn’t opposed to change.

And what can we really do about it anyway?

We love Google. We need Google. We WANT Google.

Beggars can’t be choosers and, as mentioned in a recent episode of InsidePR, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. Besides, they’ve made some good changes too, like
the addition of universal analytics and trackbacks.

Google Search Algorithm Changes

Whether you love it or hate it, Google remains one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, resources in online content. With all the changes from version to version, Penguin, Panda, Poodle (wait, no that doesn’t sound right … ) it can be a headache and a half to keep track of it all.

And, because many of the updates roll out over time, it’s possible your site could go from being OK one day, to being negatively affected the next.

Google search algorithms change hundreds of times a year, and a handful of those changes are major.

Changes within the algorithms can also vary based on your industry, and where or how you use your site. For example, rumor has it a recent update late last month has caused many sites with WordPress themes to be negatively ranked.

So Much Change … How Do We Keep Up?

You can stay on top of SEO changes by following smart bloggers such as Andy Crestodina. You can listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos. For most of us, however, we don’t have endless hours to spend online digging into all the changes. Let alone figuring out how those changes actually impact our sites. So what’s a girl (or boy) to do?

Of course, you can always hire an SEO expert (which is not a bad idea by the way), to come in and help analyze your site. But what if there was a tool you could use to check “automagically” for your site, and your clients’ sites? Guess what? There is …!

To test this tool, you need a couple minutes and access to your Google Analytics. It’s worth noting this penalty checker is completely free for up to two sites, and after that the pricing is really reasonable.

Check Your Site in Just Two Minutes: A How-To Guide

Here’s how it works: First, you create an account and connect your Google Analytics, which takes about a minute. Next, you’re guided to a diagram (below) which is a visual representation of how Google updates could affect your site.

For example, when I connect the analytics for ThinkBelle.com I see this:

When I saw this, my first thoughts were: Negative? Extremely Negative?!Is my site in dire trouble?

Fortunately, the tool doesn’t leave you hanging and instead provides an explanation of which update could be causing a conflict, and the probability of your site being affected by that conflict (whether positive, neutral, or negative.)

The whole process took about two minutes and now I have some reading to do in order to get to the bottom of the most recent Google updates.

This is a super smart, and valuable resource because you can visualize how the Google search algorithm changes may or may not affect your site or your clients’ sites. You’ll also notice Fruition provides a description of the update, which links to their blog for more detailed information.

In addition to the Google Penalty Checker Tool, Fruition has a number of resources to help keep you up-to-date on changes in Google search algorithms.

It’s that easy to get a snapshot of where your site may need an SEO tune-up. So, take two minutes and test it out for your site.

While I’m off to read about the “Wooly Mammoth Update,” leave a comment below explaining how you stay up-to-date on Google search algorithm changes.

P.S. Hurry! Our free webinar with email marketing genius, DJ Waldow, is this Thursday and we’re almost out of spots. Join us on Thursday, July 25 at noon ET. Register here.

About Kate Finley

Kate Finley is the CEO of Belle Communications, an integrated marketing firm based in Columbus, Ohio, where she helps CPG brands and startups with PR, social media, and content marketing. She is a media relations expert, leading teams in executing more than 1800 media opportunities for industry leading clients, with coverage in NBC News, TODAY, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and other top media influencers. She’s a Paleo-eater, half-marathoner, and recently acquired a taste for CrossFit.

Great find, Kate! It's also a great example of 'freemium' marketing: Fruition offers a free service we all yearn for and in return, they get some qualified leads from people who register for the product. Smart Internet Marketers, they are!

Love the Poodle reference :) I do hope the next starts with a 'P' for alliteration purposes but if they stick with the black and white theme like @yvettepistorio thinks, I vote for Google Zebra :)

@yvettepistorio I know. I had to explain to client that Google literally makes hundreds of changes each year and comparatively few impact us. However, when they do have an impact, it's pretty much a mad skirmish to comply. Crazy town.

@susancellura Awesome! Yes, it's a great starting point. You definitely have to read about the updates too so it would be good to include an SEO guru as you restructure, too. This is definitely a great, free tool. Enjoy!

[…] Visibility: The SearchMetrics SEO suite is one of the most convenient Google link penalty checker tool, as it provides a complete graph of the overall SEO visibility. The benefit of this method is that […]

[…] Visibility: The SearchMetrics SEO suite is one of the most convenient Google link penalty checker tool, as it provides a complete graph of the overall SEO visibility. The benefit of this method is that […]